H1B Wage Level Calculator
Your wage level decides how many entries you get in the 2026 weighted lottery. Check where your offer lands against official OEWS thresholds.
Frequently asked questions
›What are H1B wage levels?
DOL divides every occupation's prevailing wage into four OEWS levels: Level I (entry), Level II (qualified), Level III (experienced), and Level IV (fully competent). Your offered salary is compared against thresholds for your SOC code and work location to assign a level.
›Why does my wage level matter in 2026?
Since February 27, 2026, the H-1B cap lottery is wage-weighted: Level I registrations enter the pool once, Level II twice, Level III three times, and Level IV four times. DHS estimates selection odds of roughly 15.3%, 30.6%, 45.9%, and 61.2% for Levels I–IV respectively.
›Where do the thresholds come from?
Thresholds are derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data, the same source DOL uses for prevailing wage determinations on Labor Condition Applications. They vary by occupation and by metro, state, or national area.
›What if my metro area has no OEWS data?
The calculator falls back from metro to statewide thresholds, then to national thresholds, and tells you which fallback was used.